National Briefing | South: Georgia: Judge Blocks ID To Vote

By Brenda Goodman (NYT)

Published: October 19, 2005

A federal judge in Rome temporarily blocked a new state law that requires voters to present a government-issued photo identification at the polls. The judge, Harold L. Murphy of Federal District Court, wrote that the court respected the Georgia Legislature, which passed the measure in August, but added, ''The court simply has more respect for the Constitution.'' Republican lawmakers called the law an ''appropriate and common-sense measure'' to prevent voter fraud. Last month, a consortium of voters' rights group sued, saying the ID requirement would present an undue burden for registered voters who might have trouble obtaining driver's licenses or ID cards, especially the poor, the disabled and the elderly. Brenda Goodman (NYT)